By: Jerome Brookshire

In a series of comments made during an interview on Kol Berama radio Thursday, Israel’s Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu offered a stark defense of Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip and voiced a unique vision for the future of the territory. As reported by World Israel News, Eliyahu claimed that Israel’s military campaign is rooted not in ideology, but in the necessity of self-defense.

“We’re not acting out of racism,” Eliyahu said. “We are fighting people who want to kill us.”

Eliyahu’s comments come at a time when Israel’s government continues to face mounting international pressure over the humanitarian toll of its military campaign in Gaza. Numerous governments and aid organizations have warned of deepening food insecurity in the enclave. However, Eliyahu appeared to dismiss these warnings outright, describing them as a manufactured narrative designed to delegitimize Israel’s efforts.

“This is their campaign,” he said. “There are plenty of aid trucks in Gaza. Let the international community take care of them.”

Referencing a historical parallel, the minister added, “The British didn’t feed the Nazis during World War II. That’s how a country defends itself. We are not responsible for feeding Gaza.”

As World Israel News has reported in recent weeks, Eliyahu is not the only senior government official voicing support for a more assertive approach toward Gaza’s long-term status. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key figure in the Religious Zionist Party, has repeatedly called for Israeli sovereignty to be extended over the Gaza Strip following the defeat of Hamas.

During a party meeting last November, Smotrich outlined his vision for the region: “It’s time to take control of Gaza and strip Hamas of its civilian authority, cutting off its lifeline.” His remarks echoed earlier sentiments that drew parallels between the collapse of the Assad regime in parts of Syria and the potential unraveling of Hamas’s grip on Gaza.

“We’ve seen in Syria how regime leaders scatter like rats once they realize they’ve lost control,” Smotrich said, as quoted by World Israel News. “The same can happen in Gaza. We’re close—we’ve already made substantial progress. We need to take the next step to achieve a decisive and clear victory.”

Smotrich also criticized recent hostage negotiations that have led to the incremental release of captives. In his view, partial agreements risk undermining Israel’s military momentum and entrenching Hamas’s leverage.

“Instead of negotiating partial deals that leave hostages behind, undermine the progress we’ve made in the war, and reduce our chances of victory, we must push forward,” Smotrich argued. “We must stop fearing the unknown and do what is necessary.”

The two ministers’ remarks reflect growing ideological unity among right-wing members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition regarding the future of Gaza. While Defense Ministry officials and some members of the Israeli security establishment have remained cautious about post-war plans, a number of cabinet voices are increasingly framing the conflict not just as a battle against terrorism, but as an opportunity to recast Gaza’s political and demographic landscape.

Eliyahu was more explicit than most. In what World Israel News described as a “radical vision,” he predicted a complete transformation of the Strip: “The government is moving forward to wipe out Gaza,” he declared. “Thank God, we’re removing this evil. Eventually, all of Gaza will be Jewish.”

This statement, perhaps more than any other, encapsulates the bold ambitions of certain factions within Israel’s government. It also appears to mark a further departure from previous eras of Israeli policy, which typically sought to contain Hamas while avoiding permanent occupation or demographic entanglement in Gaza.

Within the region and beyond, reactions to Eliyahu’s comments are expected to be swift. Human rights organizations and international observers have repeatedly warned that rhetoric suggesting demographic engineering or permanent displacement could violate international law and further isolate Israel diplomatically.

Still, as the World Israel News report noted, the tone of the current government—buoyed by the support of nationalist and religious parties—suggests that such visions are gaining traction. The issue of what a post-Hamas Gaza should look like is now a central debate in Israeli policymaking circles, and Thursday’s remarks are likely to galvanize both advocates and critics of a dramatic reshaping of the territory.

As the war continues and hostage negotiations proceed haltingly, the Israeli public remains divided. The government, meanwhile, appears increasingly determined to frame the conflict as a historic opportunity—not only to defeat a terrorist organization, but to redefine the future of Gaza itself.

Whether that future includes reintegration under Israeli control or sparks broader international confrontation remains to be seen. But the political winds in Jerusalem are blowing decisively in the direction of maximalist ambitions.